Fire Disrupts Operations at Ecuador’s Biggest Refinery

The largest refinery in Ecuador was forced to suspend operations after a fire erupted in the pumps at one of the units of the 110,000 barrel-per-day Esmeraldas refinery, Ecuador’s state firm Petroecuador said in a statement. On Sunday, a fire broke out at the charging pumps at the SEVIA unit at Esmeraldas in what was the third such incident at the refinery in nine months. The SEVIA unit processes vacuum residue to reduce its viscosity and produce fuel oil, as part of the refinery’s regular operations. The fire was brought…